Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder: 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show

In typical Lamborghini fashion, the Italian maker of exotic supercars chose to unveil its latest model addition at a private function away from all the hustle and bustle of the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. Fortunately, we knew it was coming and now have all the official images and details.

The new addition is the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder, essentially a convertible version of the rear-wheel drive Gallardo LP 550-2 that’s been on sale for the past 18 months.

This time around Lamborghini isn’t launching any special edition version like the previous Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni edition. But, with 542 horsepower (550 in metric figures) and 398 pound-feet of torque of V-10 thrust being channeled to the rear wheels via a six-speed e-gear transmission, who’s complaining?

The 0-60 mph run in this car shouldn’t take you more than 4.2 seconds and top speed will max out 198 mph.

To accommodate its new rear-wheel drive configuration, the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder gets different damper settings and slightly revised aerodynamics to account for the change in the distribution of forces.

Overall weight is also down slightly at 3,351 pounds, which results in a nice 47-53 front-to-rear weight distribution. Standard wheels are 19-inch units shod with Pirelli P Zero rubber--235/35ZR19 up front and 295/30ZR19 in the rear.

First sales are scheduled to start next year, just in time for summer. Oh, and as an interesting tidbit, the last time a rear-wheel drive Lamborghini convertible was sold was when the 1998 Diablo SV Roadster was around.